You can learn to write a hit song by studying successulf songwriters. Read these Hit Song Guides as you listen to the song or follow along with the lyrics. Then try the lyric, melody, and chord techniques in songs of your own using the “Try It Now” sections in each Guide. Song Guides are organized by artist name in alphabetical order.
- 1. Choose a song from the Song Guide list below.
- 2. Listen to the relevant parts of the song as you read the Guide so you can hear how these techniques sound when used.
- 3. Do the “Try It Now” exercises in the Song Guides to start or rewrite a song of your own.
CLICK TO SEE THE LIST SORTED BY SONG TITLE.
You can hear all of these songs on my Spotify playlist Study the Hits.
A Fine Frenzy – “Almost Lover” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Adele – “Hello” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Adele – “Rolling In the Deep” (Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary)
Adele – “Set Fire to the Rain” (Genre: Pop)
Adele – “Someone Like You” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Alexi Murdoch – “All My Days” (Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter)
Banners – “Got It In You (Acoustic)” (Genre: Singer-Songwriter)
Beyoncé – “Halo” (Genre: Pop/R&B)
Beyoncé – “If I Were a Boy” (Genre: R&B/Pop)
Brandi Carlile – “Carried Me With You” (Genre: Americana/Alt Country)
Bruno Mars – “Grenade” (Genre: Pop)
BTS – “Save Me” (Genre: K-Pop)
Charlie Puth – “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (Genre – Pop)
Chris Stapleton – “Cold” (Genre: Alt Country, Blues Rock)
The Civil Wars – “Poison & Wine” (Genre: Indie Folk)
Colbie Caillat – “Fallin’ For You” (Genre: Pop)
Dermot Kennedy – “Outnumbered” (Genre: Pop, S-S)
Devin Dawson – “All On Me” (Genre: Country)
Dierks Bentley – “Gone” (Genre: Country)
Dierks Bentley – “Say You Do” (Genre: Country)
Dua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now” (Genre: Dance, Dance/Pop)
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud” (Genre – Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Foo Fighters – “These Days” (Genre – Rock)
Freya Ridings – “Blackout” (Genre: Singer Songwriter)
Galantis & OneRepublic – “Bones” (Genre: Dance)
Gregory Alan Isakov – “Second Chances” (Genre: Singer-Songwriter)
Imagine Dragons – “Believer” (Genre: Pop/Rock, Indie Rock)
James Bay – “Hold Back the River” (Genre: Folk Rock)
Jason Aldean – “Tattoos On This Town” (Genre – Rock)
Jason Aldean – “Trouble With a Heartbreak” (Genre: Country)
Jason Mraz – “I’m Yours” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
John Legend – “All Of Me” (Genre: Pop)
John Mayer – “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” (Genre: Singer-Songwriter)
Josh Turner – “Why Don’t We Just Dance” (Genre – Country)
Joshua Radin – “Beautiful Day” (Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter)
Justin Bieber – “Ghost” (Genre: Pop)
Kelly Clarkson – “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” (Genre: Pop)
Lauv – “The Other” (Genre: Pop)
Lee Brice – “I Drive Your Truck” (Genre: Country)
Lewis Capaldi – “Before You Go” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Lorde – “Royals” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Luke Bryan – “Play It Again” (Genre: Country)
The Lumineers – “Brightside” (Genre: Alt Rock / Indie-Pop)
Maren Morris – “The Bones” (Genre: Country)
Matt Nathanson – “Come On Get Higher” (Genre: Pop)
Meghan Trainor – “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” (Genre: Pop)
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” (Genre: Pop)
Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me” (Genre: Country)
MKTO – “Classic” (Genre: Pop)
Nathaniel Rateliff – “And It’s Still Alright” (Genre: Americana)
Nick Drake – “Place to Be” (Folk)
Nick Drake – “Fly” “Cello Song” (Folk)
Nick Drake – “River Man” (Folk)
Olivia Rodrigo – “Driver’s License” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Passenger – “Let Her Go” (Genre: Folk Rock)
Phillip Phillips – “Gone, Gone, Gone” (Genre: Indie Folk)
Rascal Flats – “Here” (Genre: Country)
Sara Bareilles – “Brave” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Sara Bareilles – “King of Anything” (Genre: Pop, Singer-Songwriter)
Shinedown – “The Sound of Madness” (Genre: Rock)
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open” (R&B/Soul)
Taio Cruz – “Dynamite” (Genre: Pop, Dance/Pop)
Taylor Swift” – “Cruel Summer” (Genre: Pop)
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me” (Genre – Pop/Country)
Thomas Rhett – “Slow Down Summer” (Genre: Country)
Tim McGraw – “Highway Don’t Care” (Genre: Country)
Toni Braxton – “Hands Tied” (Genre: R&B)
Uncle Kracker – “Smile” (Genre: Pop, Pop/Country)
Zach Bryan – “Something In the Orange” (Country)
Zayde Wolf – “Heroes” & “Next Level” (Genre: Pop/Rock)